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Security geared up to tackle adverse fallout

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, July 18 - With the date for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) drawing closer, the State Government is taking adequate precautionary measures to prevent any law and order problem. A close watch is being maintained on the social media so that immediate action can be taken against anyone found to be spreading rumours or hate campaigns.

Giving an account of the steps taken by the Government to prevent occurrence of any law and order problem after the publication of the NRC, Additional Chief Secretary in charge of the Home Department, Kumar Sanjay Krishna told The Assam Tribune that adequate forces have been deployed in the sensitive areas of the State and hoped that there should not be any shortage of forces to maintain law and order. He said that the Central forces, which were withdrawn from Assam following the Lok Sabha polls, have returned and they are deployed as per requirement.

Sanjay Krishna revealed that a series of meetings are being held with the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts to make preparations to deal with any eventuality. The officers on the field have been directed to keep a close watch to ensure that no communal or ethnic disturbance can take place in any part of the State. He revealed that on July 16, such a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and range DIG was held in Jorhat where the security scenario of the Upper Assam districts were reviewed and plans were chalked out to deal with any problem that may occur. Similar meetings are planned in Guwahati, Bongaigaon and Silchar to cover the entire State, he added.

The Additional Chief Secretary admitted that spreading of rumours and hate campaigns through the social media is a major cause of concern and police and security agencies are keeping a close watch on the cyber space. He said that the Government has already directed the police to take strong action against anyone found to be involved in spreading rumours or launching hate campaigns through the social media. Several such cases have been registered and in a few cases, people were forced to withdraw their comments.

Sanjay Krishna revealed that majority of the provocative comments were made by youths of the age group of 18 to 26 years as they do not have the experience to decide what to write and what not in the social media. �That is why, during our visit to Jorhat, we had a discussion with leaders of different students� organizations and sought their support to spread awareness among youths. The response that we received was very positive. We are planning similar meetings with students in other parts of the State also,� he added.

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